Eileen Collins

Eileen Collins is a retired United States Air Force colonel and a former NASA astronaut, celebrated as the first woman to pilot and command a Space Shuttle. Her career, spanning from her selection in the 1990 astronaut class to her final mission in 2005, broke significant gender barriers in human spaceflight. Collins is renowned for her technical skill as a test pilot and her leadership on missions to the Mir space station and the International Space Station.

Early life and education

Born in Elmira, New York, Collins was inspired by the Project Mercury and Apollo program astronauts. She attended Corning Community College before earning a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978. She joined the United States Air Force through the ROTC program at Syracuse University, initially serving as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot at Vance Air Force Base. Collins furthered her education with a Master of Science in operations research from Stanford University in 1986 and a Master of Arts in space systems management from Webster University in 1989. Her military career included assignments at Travis Air Force Base flying the C-141 Starlifter and graduating from the prestigious United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1990.

NASA career

Selected by NASA as part of NASA Astronaut Group 13 in 1990, Collins became the first woman chosen for the United States Air Force's elite test pilot pathway to astronaut selection. Her initial technical assignments included roles in the Space Shuttle branch, working on Orbiter systems and serving as a spacecraft communicator, or CAPCOM, in Mission Control Center at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. She also contributed to the development of cockpit upgrades for the Space Shuttle fleet. Her expertise in avionics and flight procedures made her a key figure in mission planning and astronaut training, preparing her for historic flight assignments.

Space Shuttle missions

Collins served as pilot on two missions before commanding two others. Her first flight was STS-63 in 1995 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, a rendezvous mission with the Russian Space Agency's Mir space station that included the first female pilot of a Space Shuttle. She again piloted Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-84 in 1997, a docking mission to Mir. In 1999, she commanded STS-93 on Space Shuttle Columbia, deploying the Chandra X-Ray Observatory; this mission made her the first female Space Shuttle commander. Her final mission was commanding the STS-114 "Return to Flight" mission of Space Shuttle Discovery in 2005, the first Space Shuttle launch after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, which focused on testing new safety procedures for the International Space Station.

Post-NASA career and legacy

After retiring from NASA and the United States Air Force in 2006, Collins served on the boards of directors for several corporations, including USAA. She has been a prominent advocate for STEM education, particularly for encouraging young women in science and engineering. Collins has received numerous honors, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Her legacy is cemented as a trailblazer who opened the door for subsequent female commanders like Pamela Melroy and for women in military aviation and space leadership roles.

Personal life

Collins is married to fellow pilot Pat Youngs, and they have two children. She has been a private pilot and enjoys activities such as hiking and reading. Since retirement, she has been a sought-after public speaker, sharing her experiences at venues like the National Air and Space Museum and various academic institutions. She maintains a connection to her hometown of Elmira, New York, and has been involved with the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center.

Category:American astronauts Category:NASA astronauts Category:United States Air Force officers Category:Test pilots